Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus #7 UConn on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 72, to, 73
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Final
Men's Basketball
72
vs #7 UConn
73
Murphy & Rivers Bring Strong Pedigrees to Duke
8/1/2011 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke freshmen Alex Murphy and Austin Rivers have both been surrounded by amazing basketball talent throughout their careers - and that's just when they're at home.
Murphy is the product of a father that spent several years in the NBA, and many more playing professionally in Europe, and a mother that played professionally in Sweden and was a member of the Finnish National Team from 1988-94.
Rivers is the son of former NBA All-Star, NBA Championship-winning coach, and NBA Coach of the Year honoree, Doc Rivers.
Both Murphy and Rivers also have older siblings that have gone on to compete at the highest levels in the NCAA.
One of the teams Duke will play this season on the court will hold a special place in the hearts of the Murphy family. That's because Jay, Murphy's father, averaged 14.6 points per game for his career while leading Boston College to three NCAA Tournaments - two Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight - and one NIT appearance. A three-time All-Big East honoree, the elder Murphy currently ranks sixth on the school's career scoring list (1,795 points) and seventh on the career rebounding list (763 rebounds).
After being chosen in the second round of the 1984 NBA Draft, Jay Murphy played five years in the NBA and several years in the USBL, France and Italy before retiring in 1995.
Of course, Jay isn't the only one of Alex's parents that can claim an accomplished athletic career. Alex's mother, Paivi, was a basketball star in her own right, playing professionally in Sweden for several years and for the Finnish National Team from 1988-1994.
Whatever positive influence Alex's parents had on him, it worked for his older brother, Erik, too. Erik, a 6-foot-10, 220 pound forward, is about to enter his junior year at Florida where he plays on, where else, the basketball team.
For a long time Austin Rivers was known as his father's son. In a few years, many might be referring to Doc as his son's father.
In 2011, the Rivers combo became the second father-son tandem to each play in the McDonald's All-America game.
Doc went on to play collegiately at Marquette and gained extensive international experience with USA Basketball, winning two silver medals and one bronze medal playing for three USA Basketball teams. He was named tournament MVP after leading the USA team to the silver medal at 1982 World Championship.
Doc had a lengthy NBA career with Atlanta Hawks (1983-91), Los Angeles Clippers (1991-92), New York Knicks (1992-94) and San Antonio Spurs (1994-96), earning NBA All-Star honors in 1988. He moved on to the coaching ranks, leading the Orlando Magic from 1999-2004. He was named the NBA Coach of Year in 2000.
For the last seven years, Rivers has been the head coach of the Boston Celtics, leading the team to the NBA Championship during the 2007-08 campaign.
Austin's family tree, like Murphy's, is also an athletic one.
Rivers' older brother, Jeremiah, played college basketball at Georgetown and Indiana, while his older sister, Callie, is a professional volleyball player in Puerto Rico.
One of the hardest adjustments student-athletes normally have to make is learning to deal with success, and the fame it can bring, while staying modest. Alex Murphy and Austin Rivers are in a unique position - they can find most of the answers they need simply by calling home.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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